Apparatus for mounting nonskid chains on automobile wheels



Bec.. 21 1926'.

l I 1,611,279 M. H. RAMSBURG APPARATUS FOR MOUNTINGv NONSKID CHA INS ON AUTOMOBILE WHEELS 4 Filed May 2, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV'ENTOR.

MeHrLe HFd'msbrmfg E* MfS/@M l ATTORNEY.

' Dec. 21, 1921;. 1,611,279

v M. 1-1.RA\\1sBuRG- APPARATUS FO MOUNTlNG NONSKID CHAINS ON AUTOMOBILE WHEELS Filed May 2, '1925 6 sruaet's-sheet 5 @Wzf/Wv.

ATTORNEY.

` M H RAMSBURG APPARATUS MOUNTING NONSKID CHAINS ON AUTOMOBILE WHEELS 6 Sheets-Sheet Deje. 21 .1926. 1,611,279

4Filed May 2, 1925 Anmumx Dec. 21 1926. y 1,611,279

' l M. H. RAMSBURG APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING NONSKID CHAINS ON AUTOMOBILE WHEELS Filed 'May 2, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec., 21, 1926. 1,611,279

M. H. RAMSBURG APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING NONSKID CHAINS ON AUTOMOBILE WHEELS l N VEN TOR.

- ATTORNEY.

lkigure 7 ,but showing the position of the in Figure 9, but illustrating the manner in which the rear end of the chain is released from the means which yfeeds it to the wheel, Figure 13is a section on the line 13--13 of Figure 12. *Y j f Y FiguresM and are views similar to Figures 12 Vand .13, but show .the chain fully end locked to the wheel. y

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates an released from its feeding'means and its rear Hr,automobile having. rear wheels V2. Each wheel is provided with'the conventional tirek 3 mounted on felly 4:, and 5 designatesthe rear mud guards. Inasmuch as themechanismofthis invention is, in the main, dupliycated for each` wheeLI will simply describe the mechanism associated with one wheel andit will be understood that it will apply to all other wheels of the vehicle with which Y .isadapted to be normally housed within the itis vdesired to use the invention. Y

It ywill be noted that the rear mud guard 5, at, e. g., the left hand rear Vof the car, is provided on itsunder side with two pivoted guidesections 6. These sections are mounted at their rear ends on transverse shafts 7 which are Vjournalled for rotation in the mud Y 7 of both rear mud Aguards of the car are.V

guard and the sections 6-extend in lateral parallel relation along Vthe opposite edges of the mud guard'and in a forward direction, beinglongitudinally curve-d to conform with the longitudinal curve of the mud guard. .Y

Suitable bearings in the'mud guard are provided for the shafts 7 and rigid with each shaft 7 isan operating arm 8, to the free end of which is connected a link 9. The shafts connected by links 9 to arms 10 .which are rigid witha rock shaft 1'3. This rock shaft 13 extends transversely of the car and' is mounted in suitable bearings to permit of its oscillation.4 VOne ofthe arms 10 is extended in an'upward direction to form operating handle 12Y and through the connections de-V scribed movement ofthe operating handle is communicated to both shafts`7 for the? purpose of movingthe pivoted sections 6 from the full line position of Figures 2 and 3 into dotted line position and vice versa, as theV operator may desire. In order that thefree ends of the pivoted guide sections 6 may be properly guided, I associate with the free end of each guide section, a link 14. One end of each of vthese links is pivoted at 15 to the mud guard, while the other end of such` link isi/slotted as' shown at 16 for cooperation with a stud 17 carried by the end of the associated guide section. Y

From the rear ends of each oftherguides 6 extend fixed guides 18'which, Vlrin. effect, form -a continuation of the guides 6. The

either edge of the i'nudguard are connected i6 guides 18Varerrigidwith the mud guard and Y extend rearwardly and followv the curve ofV by curved metal partitions 20, 2 1 and 22, as

lshown best in Figure 5, and form betweeny them arcuate chambers 23 and 2li, Q,

Fach of th-e guides 6 and 18 at either margin of the mud guard are ofthe peculiar shape shown in Figure 5and in larger section in Figure 8. A`Tiach guideis of rigid:

construction and is channe'lled Vtov form a guideway for substantially cruciforin' slide blocks 27. p

The antiskid chain 25 with cross links 26 chambers 23 and2i1, and tlie`blocks27, of which there are a,considerablenumber, are connected to the side chains 25 lat each'cross rchain 26, with as many in between as are necessary to properly guidev and support the chain. An additional block 28 is connected to the front end of each sidev chain, and aV drums 32 carried on atransverse shaft 32a.

- carried by the mud guard and these spring actuated drums tend tolconstalntly wind up the cables 31 and maintain the side chains 25 constantly under tension.

On each side -of the felly is .mounted a block33 designed to engage the ring 35 of one of the terminal blocks 28 when thefwheel is turned while said-terminal blockA is in position for such engagement. Pivotally mounted kon the block 33 aretwin hooks 34% carried by a'brack-et 36 which is,`in turn,

carried by pivots 37. rlhese pivots 37 extend througharms 39 forming part of the block 33. Springs 38 normally iinpel the bracket 36 into such position that the twin hooks 34-Vv are capable of engagement with the ring 35 of the terminal block 28. lt will be ii c.

noted from Figure 6, however, that the twin hooks 34: and thearin on which they are carried'can be shifted onthepivots 37 into the dotted linepositioiiof this ligure and in which position they enter a recess 43 in the block as willbe hereiiiafter'inore fully explained.- Stopsfl() on the a'rins `39l liinitl the outer movement of, the bracket. l

The-felly block 33 is also provided'with a 5 reces-s 45 whichis oit isideslightly ina diy iectioii radially of' lthe wheel from alinement with the hook projections El and inthe base of t-his recess 45 isa Vpiston 6 bachof which is a spring il?, to receive the rear block 29?, as shown iii io Figure 9andin the side of such recess; are

eateries allseegFiguren),back ofeacliV of; which is a spring r51. Attached lto veachi latch isa rod V49 which,projects,threugliL l5 slot 5l).VY

Mounted gage with the rods 49 and actuate'tlieinto retract the catches a8.'

The follower block 54k is hollow and one arinj of this cruoiforni cross .section is inounted a catch lpivoted at 56 and acted upon by. a spring-tf?. This catch` normally en-v gages Awith a ring 5801i the-block QQand serves'to normally'loch tli'eblocl 2Std the' block 54. However, when the blockY 54, after guide section arr-ives atY the free end thereof,y the heel of the. latch55I is adapted to en-y gage with a: stop 59 mouiited at the extreme,V

Y outer end 'of theguide section @and throughl 'th-is, engagement, the latc-hg'jniay be retract-r ed frein engagement with the vringfS. to re- Y lease said ring. l

I7 practice, theblocli inay beset into'l the felly so vthat, the 'outer[surface of saidv .block isflush with vthe outer surface of the j fel-ly and this arrangement is ofcourse dupl-icatedon both sidesjof each wheel., This `flush arrangement is satisfactory when the`V Vtelly ofthe wheelis unobstructed tire holding bolts or locking lugs, but in such constructions' as employ locking lugsor simi"- lar'inea-n's to hold a demountable-tire in position, thebloclis 38 preferably enteiidbeyond the outerface ofgthe-'felly and at eitherfside thereof for a distance .greaterthanfthe dii v meiision of the locking lugsfand an annular v "ring is positionedrto cover the locking lugs andl to bridgetheannu-lar space 1oetween one end of each 'block 33 andthe other endV oit 'the corresponding block.' Such a ring is Y shown in section inuFigurestG fand 9 and is designatedv 41. f A f, yHavingnow described the structural elements of the invention, I'will now proceed to operates.- t i, .Y i

VfUnder norinal .'c'olndiftions, the antiskid chain is contained `in compact condition within 'the guides 6.- and 1S, the former being 7 folded upl under the mud guards, asl shown This recess is designedtraveling the length of 1 its corresponding lstoo 59, asshown in Figur fthe blocked-which will'be engaged bei/"ad set-forth'the manner in which the zqiparatusY`v in the Ifull line position 'of Figure; 3. l'vVhenf itr is; desiredto apply;the;chains,I theliand i laverie, is amm ijf-Omnia, fuii iin@ pennen;

of Figure 2' into the'dottedflineposition of such figure and through suoli operatiomthe .pivoted guide sectioiisftA y'are inoved into the v [dottedv line positions of FiguresQ and Either during this operation or thereafter, -slow irioveinentifis imparted vto .the car iii afforwardf direction in, order that vthe rear-iV vwheelsmaybe caused to rotate.- llieinove-fV inentof the pivotedguide, sections has shift-v edthedreeY ends ofthe `several guide sec#Y a position' whereinithe. forwardV slide blocks28 Vof eacliiof the `chains lie in twin'hoolis S-lfat either side of leach wheel.` Thesefhooks, oy virtue of thev springs 38, are linthe outeri'i'iost full line poi ofthe blocks 28; i A s the wheels continue out thereby Vuntil the wheel has @made 'one A,complete rotation; During this operation,

thev chains are kept-taut b v the spring drums sitionof Figuie'", andas the wheels rotatel v the hooks 34 enter and' engage withtlierring's to rotate, the' chai u e' is pulled freinthe guides andis slowly fedi;

32 and .a'siiioothfand regular feed of .the

chain results., The pull yon'thechainv serves to draw' the` bracketsv SGjiiito` the retracted dotted line position of Figure Y lifter. t"

toniatiee nient w Y ve' been'`r :thdrawn to substaiif; tiallv thev ends ofthe" pivotedY uide sections 6. .liiasinuch asftliesetein'iinal blocks are li'elfdit'f the guide "sections against the telly 'or'gu ring ill under more v or'les's resrsure, these terminal blocks will immediately .s priiiginto the recesses 45. 'lt will beV noted,

ioweve'i", that'by the tiine the terminal' blochsfai'e aliiied 'with the recesses, tls'e'can'is 53 ,fl-Tie'. ll willdiave:engaged-with'the 7 o v Y T3 f A rods 4:9 andretracted thegcatclles 148, -sojas to permit the terminal blo :the bases ofthe Y recesses fie; therwlieels ycoiituir-,e t ial blocks 29 willbe car -withrand will nieve the latch the Y l il) a ,Y v latfh and release the o r ofthe terminal block As soon th'isreleasetakes place, the spring druins 32 will immediatelyretra tent l2 mounted von the interiorof each guide usual. K "j When it is desired to re'iiiovejthe chains, this operation is accoinpli'shedjas follows.

ne wheels have made one complete dotation, the inoveiiient of such wheels areVA lly lpositions tliereces es l5 in aliiie- Y y i the teiininal blocks 2S) which, by

this time, ha

a retraetfthe f section '6, asslioiviiin Figure 9.l The chains '7' e nowtiinilysecured to the wheels and' are capable of functioning inthe usual inaii'ner.` the ii'oiina-lfiill'lliiie position of 'Figure l'faiid' the carA :may thereupon piel;` up speed, and-proceed f The car isy backed very slowly to introduce the rings 58 ofthe'terminal blocks-29 -into the free Vends ofthe guide sections 6 which have been previously shiftedV into position to receive these terminal blocks. ris tne ter-` minal blocks enter the free ends of the (guides, they pass by the latches until these latches engage with the ringsl 58. Further movement or' the terminal blocks '29 bring them into engagement with the nose 43 oteach detent l2 and cause these detents to be flexed outwardly to release the blocks 54. 'As soon as this has occurred, the ten `sion of the springs in the drums 32 will bev exerted on the terminal blocks 29 and will tend to draw the chains back into the guides.

f By the time, however, the terminal blocs have been engaged with the latches 55 and release `the detents fla, the wheels willv have moved into position to engage the rods a9 with the cams 53, therebyy to retract the catches t8 and release the terminal blocks 29 out ot the recess Zl5 as soon as the catches are released and thus render the termina blocks capable of responding to the pull oi: the spring drums.

As the car continues to slowly back up and the chains are slowly unwound from the wheels, the spring drums ot the guides draw the chain longitudinally of these Ouines into the chambersY 23V and 2a, until the forward yterminal blocks Q8 are reached. These terminal Vblocks willenter the free' endsor' the guide sections 6 and will be engaged and arrested by the detente 42, as shownin Figure 6. `Further movement of the wheels in a rearward direction will swing V'the'hooks 34 into the full line position ot' Figure 6,

vthereby automatically releasing the terminal blocks E28y trom these hooks jand leaving the parts in the position lwhich they initially occupy so that the operations described in- V v cident to the attaching of the chains may be again carried on when the circumstances iequire.

It desired, the free ends of the pivoted lguide sections 6 may Ybe Yflared out slightly Vor enlarged to form a bill shaped mouth which would more readily pick up or receive the crucitorm guide blocks during the removal oit the chains from the wheels. have not, however, considered it necessary Y 'to villustrate this arrangement in thedrawings as it will be obvious to those skilled in the art.l

It will beapparent from the Jforegoing detailed description of theinvention that it provides means whereby chains normally housed -in concealed position can be applied toand removed from thewheels ot a vehiclek by movement of the vehicle and without manual intervention except that necessary to insure the operation of automaticmecha nism. i v

The drawings show the invention Vin its Y t neil-,279i

preferred form, but inasmuch as am aware otadditional waysin which the same workV may be carriedv out, l wish it understood that Vthe invention isnot limited to the specific showing et' the drawings, but that in contiadistinction, .it is vto beA construed as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention,

what i claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patentris: e

1. ln an apparatus for applying skid chains to van automobile, the combination with an automobile, of acontainermounted thereon and embodying guides in which a' Si)v non-skid chain is slidably carried and por'- tions of which guides'are mounted for piv-v otal movement, retaining means carried by a wheel of the automobile Ytor engaging theV opposite ends oi the chain iii succession, and

manually operable means for shifting the .pivoted sections of the guides into a position to feed the chainto the chain retaining means of the wheel.

2. ink an apparatus for applying .skid

and means, operable by an occupantof the car and while the car is in motion, to shift the pivotal sections of the guides to position Y the attaching means at the ip'ront end of theV chain in the path oit tliecorresponding chain retaining means on the wheel, whereby, as,

ino

los

the wheel rotates, the front end of the chainV A` is attached lthereto and the chain is wrapped about the wheel to automatically bring the attaching means at the rear'end of `the chain into cooperation with the corresponding retaining means onv the wheel. Y Y 3. ln an apparatus for applying skid ,chains to an automobile, `the'l combination with an automobile, of retaining means earried by the wheel for engaging the front and rear ends oi an anti-skid'chain,an antiV- skid chain provided at its opposite endswitli attaching devices, cooperable with the corresponding chain engaging mean-s on the wheel, chain guides mounted on the automobile ktor normally supporting the `chain in concealed position and portion of whichY guides Vare mounted for pivotal movement, means, operable by an occupant 'of the car and while the car is in motion, to shift the pivotal sections of the guides to position the attaching means at the front end of the chain in the path of Vthe Y corresponding chain retaining means onrthe wheel, whereby, as

the Wheel rotates,tlie`fiont end of the chain Visattaolied thereto andthe chain iswrapped about the Wheel to automatically bring the; attaching means at tliev rear vend ot tlie chainl intoacooperationvwith the corresponding ref taining` means von the Wheelfarspifing actuate'dfdiun'if caiiiedY by .tbe 'automobile in Cor i Aoperative relation to the cliain-guidea'a ten.-y

sion'member coiled about., tliedium and'de- J vtozuitomatically` bring the attaching means i tachablyl connected to"'theii'ea1m end of the chain for precluding kinking ofthe chain",l V4and .means foi' automaticallyA releasing the Y V,chain from-saidcable after the attaolime'nt zal Vofthe chain't'o the Wheel. is completed.

Inf an apparatusdlfoi applying skid `cliainsto. an automobile,- `theycombination yWitli an automobileliaving chain container thereonzof retaining ymeans carried bythe VWheel for engaging` the ,front 'and' relai' ends of lan antislidy chain, anY antislid cliain'norvatthe front vend ofjztliegcliain 'in' the path of the correspondingfcliain retaining ineaneg'Iv i, onftlie WlieeL'Wheieby as tlie Wlieel rotates, l f tliefront end of the chain i'sattaclied tlieiefV to and the cliain isl wrapped-(about the Wheel V atf'tlie rear" end of the obainf'int'o coopera-S *Y tion with the corresponding retaining meaneon the Wheel, aspiin'g actuateddrumcar? cluding kinkingof' the Qliaim and means foi automatically releasing tliechainl from said Vcable after the Vattaclimentoiiltlie chain to ytlie Wlieel vis ooi'mfiple'ted, :said dium being adapted toV act ltliioii'gli the tensionv member to `ietiiin the chain iiito tliecontainer when the chain'i's releasedfi'omthewheelt VSigned by me at Fredeiickg`Md; this 18th4v vday 'oApril 1925. Y

" Y iuniiianifiH.`

4() i ,tried by tbey automobile invcoo'pei'ative relaj N y .tion-to the v'chain guides, a tension member fj v coiled about the drum and detacliably con f nected toi tli'esreaif end of the chain for pre'- 

